1 Our Mission: ACS Athens is a student-centered international school, embracing American educational philosophy, principles and values. Through excellence in teaching and diverse educational experiences, ACS Athens challenges all students to realize their unique potential: academically, intellectually, socially and ethically - to thrive as responsible global citizens. By Dr. Peggy Pelonis, ACS Athens President ACS Athens Philosophy of Athletics: In accordance with the ACS Athens Mission Statement, the Athletic department’s intent is to provide students with athletic opportunities that will challenge them and will further develop each student’s educational maturity. The athletic program will always be in conformity with the general objectives of the school and at no time will the educational curriculum be placed in a secondary role. The fundamental principle of sports, particularly competitive athletics, is to augment the education of the young. Athletics should both promote and supplement the regular curriculum at the school. The athletic department’s concern is the personal development of each athlete. It is however necessary for the student who elects to participate in Athletics to understand that he/she is voluntarily making a choice of self-discipline, self-responsibility and commitment.
www.acs.gr
Publisher: ACS Athens Editor/Director of Athletics: Annie Constantinides Co-Editor: Labrini Rontogiannis Photo credits: Valia Efstathiou, Sevasti Vrakatseli Concept & publication design: Leda Tsoukia Copyright©2021-22. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine (text or images) may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher
The pandemic has brought many challenges our way, both physical and mental. Recent lockdowns, wearing masks, going out only after permission and inability to see friends and loved ones for long periods of time may have brought online learning to the forefront, but there is one need that came out stronger than ever; the need to connect. Coming together to socialize, laugh, play, discuss and engage can only happen face to face. Holistic education means educating the body and the mind, and physical activity through sport does both. It not only keeps us physically fit, but also allows us to build mental muscle; resilience, discipline and collaborative skill. So now we are back - almost back to ‘normal’- and we may have forgotten some of the ways to stay healthy and physically fit. It’s a re-learning experience, but it starts with the decision; to play sport rather than to spend more time on social media, to practice with teammates rather than to watch another episode on TV, ultimately to build mental and physical muscle rather than to be stationary and do the very least. It’s always good to remember that engaging in sport is a decision and a personal one at that. But, it is an intentional decision on a daily basis. This year’s sport activities resumed and though minimal, they reminded us of the many benefits they provide; engagement, working towards a common goal, living with purpose and growing daily. Through ups and downs, wins and losses, obstacles and challenges, your persistence and your coaches/teachers’ determination to provide as much activity as possible, has been noteworthy. Finding our footing isn’t always easy. Habit makes change difficult and we have a tendency to go back to the familiar and predictable, but getting back to a new normal may feel like newfound freedom. The freedom to have these types of choices is invaluable. As an athlete, you have found a valuable way to connect, work with purpose and grow. Cherish this type of freedom and let your body and mind grow into optimal health. May the challenging experiences of the past three years stay behind us and may the freedom of choice continue to multiply.
2
Bouncing Back... By Annie Constantinides, Director of Athletics For more than two years, the entire world faced an unprecedented situation: the COVID-19 pandemic, and I must say humanity was blindsided; no one knew what was coming, no one knew what to expect and everyone was having some form of difficulty in coping with the sudden and abrupt changes in everyday life. Day after day and month after month we all had to adapt in many facets of our lives; academically, socially, and physically. In one night, learning was virtual, connections with friends and family were at a halt and physical activity was almost nonexistent for many! The 2021-22 academic year started with great promises; our students had the opportunity to tryout for our sports teams and there was an air of enthusiasm on our campus from early on. They were “hungry” to compete and experience all that sports can offer! You could see the desire of our students to get out on the field and courts; sports action was missed. We ‘re back to our normal sports life? Not really. Campus and sports health protocols, including regular self-testing during competition days, were in place and competition with other schools was a challenge. While several competitions were scheduled early on during the season, some got cancelled and never rescheduled; our end of season travel tournaments never took place adding to the disappointment of many. BUT our students and coaches bounced back by continuing to practice not only to improve their skills but to simply enjoy their sport. After all, the joy of participating in sports had been taken away for too long. In difficult situations, not giving up is very important; adapting to a new “norm” was the only option for our student athletes and our coaches.
This is what sports teach all those involved: to “read” a situation, to react, to think creatively, to be resilient and to move on; no matter what the circumstances are. I would like to take this opportunity to commend our student athletes and our coaches for their efforts throughout the year; but most importantly, for their spirit. The ACS Athens LANCER SPIRIT! To our seniors, best of wishes for your new journey; remember, go out there and make your own memories. To our athletes coming back, make sure you are ready for an energizing sports year.
3
ACS Athens Athletics “10 Commandments” •
Never underestimate your opponent.
•
Work on your weaknesses until they become your strong points.
•
Remember that a great effort is usually the result of great attitude.
•
Win with humility, lose with grace.
•
Ignore those who discourage you.
•
Remember that how you conduct yourself off the field is just as important as how you conduct yourself on the field.
•
Talent is God-given – be humble. Fame is man-given – be thankful. Conceit is self-given – be careful.
•
Don’t ask to be deprived of tension and discipline – these are the tools that shape success.
•
Do what has to be done, when it has to be done, and as well as it can be done.
•
Always give your best!
EFFORT RESPECT DISCIPLINE MOTIVATION SPORTSMANSHIP PRIDE
4
INTRODUCING THE ACS ATHENS COMPETITIVE TEAMS Middle school and high school CROSS COUNTRY TEAms
JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER
VArsiTY GIRLS SOCCER
5
JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS SOCCER
VARSITY BOYS SOCCER
JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
VARSITY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS VOLLEYBALL
VARSITY BOYS VOLLEYBALL
6
MIDDLE SCHOOL SWIMMING
HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING
JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL
VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL
JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL
VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL
7
JUNIOR VARSITY TENNIS
VARSITY TENNIS
MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
8
9
10
our COACHINg TEAM
ANNIE CONSTANTINIDES Director of Athletics
ALEXANDRA KOMNOU
ANGELOS DIMITROPOULOS
ATHANASIA KOTSIANI
BABIS MAMAS
CHRIS KOURTIS
CHRIS STACHIKAS
DEAN MORAITIS
DIONYSIS PAPADAKIS
EFI KARATOPOUZI
IGOR SCHOENEFELD
11
ILIAS KARAPIPERIS
LABRINI RONTOGIANNIS
MARIE GORACK
NATASSA ANTONIOU
NICK NAOUM
NIKI DIMITROPOULOU
ORESTIS CHARACHOUSIS
VASILIS MIKROS
JUSTIN CRAMER
12
COACHES BEST PRACTICES
S
eptember 20th, 2021: First day of our fall season. After approximately 18 months of sport inactivity due to the pandemic, we finally had the “green” light to have our competitive sports! It was great: for the department, for the coaches and for the students. The planning was in place and our focus was to get the students on the field / court safely without any interruptions; we knew that coming back would be a challenge for many reasons; the fear of what would happen if there was another “wave” ahead of us along with the uncertainty regarding future competition or any travel for that matter. One thing for sure: there was an excitement in the air that was missed greatly in the last couple of years. With the year behind us, coaches were asked to reflect on this year (and the most recent years) by responding to three questions: What is the biggest difference you noticed in coaching your sport in the last few years? What is your “golden” /
best practice that always works with your athletes? What do you want to say to your team this year? What message do you want them to have from you? It seems that all coaches had similar challenges as well as unique experiences; here is what they shared:
What is the biggest difference you noticed in coaching your sport in the last few years? Athanasia Kotsiani & Dionisis Papadakis High School Swimming: The biggest difference we have noticed in coaching swimming the last few years is on athletes’ motivation. Before the pandemic our HS swimming team was one of the most popular sports and a lot of High School students
wanted to be part of the swimming family, to practice and compete for their school. The 2019-2020 season was a landmark year for us as we were ready to join the ISST tournament for the first time. Then the Covid-19 pandemic came and impacted our athletic and school community with entire sport seasons and competitions canceled and our swimming pool remaining closed for over a year. The fact that we lost many important members of our team (our seniors) hurt us because we lost many student mentors and leaders for the team. Swimming is a difficult sport; it took a lot of effort to convince our athletes to not only ‘return-to-play’ after such a long period of inactivity but to also commit to the team. The Covid restrictions for competitions were another barrier for students as it affected their motivation to compete. We found that what keeps you motivated in swimming is the progress and personal growth through not only the practices but the competitions as well. The fact that we didn’t have many competitions this year affected this motivation and the desire to commit to the ACS Swim team and has been a continuous challenge for us as we try our best to keep our swimmers’ spirit up through different coaching methods,
challenging practices and as many team activities as we can.
Chris Kourtis Middle School Tennis: After a two year pause in our sports teams, we were all thrilled to step inside the courts once more. A major difference that was obvious every day was the excitement the student athletes showed during practice. The attendance in practice increased from past years making our weekly routines more engaging and our students bonding as a whole instead (especially for Tennis) as smaller groups within the same team. The enthusiasm they show and the will to take advice, filter the coaching tips and then put them into action has surely given me the responsibility to guide them and grow alongside with them.
Angelos Dimitropoulos Track & Field: Track & Field is a sport that “borrows” talent from other sports. Due to the 2-year pandemic, students had long periods of inactivity, something that was evident during the track season, when one needs to
13
have built the foundation for a crash training program. Inevitably, muscles became more sore than usual, and records have become hard to beat. We anticipate that next year our students will be readier and better prepared for such a demanding last season.
Natassa Antoniou & Orestis Charachousis Middle School Swimming: The biggest difference we spotted was the fact that due to lockdown caused by the pandemic, the students were more eager to learn and were constantly asking us for more swimming lessons as well as competitions. They never missed a practice and we felt this was a result of the inactivity of the previous seasons.
Efi Karatopouzi Track & Field: I have noticed that the number of student athletes is lower than previous years; but the ones that participated were motivated to improve their personal results. Their physical condition was also not at the level as in the previous years, but nevertheless, the effort was there.
Igor Schoenefeld High School Tennis: Training athletes of an individual sport and being
at an age close to entering adult life was and is always a challenge. Unlike team sports, tennis athletes must find the motivation, dedication and effort needed on their own, every time they enter the tennis court. With respect to the global pandemic, it was difficult to find their way back to old performance and routines. The sole purpose of training is competition. Athletes train for it, sacrifice for it, suffer for it and need to feel it! What is left if you take that away? Even world class players were struggling to cope with the circumstances, and they have already an “Athlete Mindset”. Developing this mindset, finding the motivation, dedication, effort and routines, after being put on “pause”, was -and still is- a major challenge for the athletes and coaches.
14
What is your “golden” / best practice that always works with your athletes? Nick Naoum & Dean Moraitis Varsity Girls Soccer: When able, we try to participate in the drill itself, which is why we always like to have a ball available to us. Players respect a coach that has the ability to demonstrate exactly what he or she wants instead of a coach who just tells a player to perform a certain drill. When a player sees the coach make an effort of what is expected from the player, they have a higher level of respect and work harder to satisfy the coaches wants and needs.
Athanasia Kotsiani & Dionisis Papadakis High School Swimming: The best practice that always works with young swimmers is building a culture of motivation. Every season we try hard to create a climate of belonging, team unity and develop a team that naturally brings up the motivational
level of all students on the team. We strongly believe that swimming is not just an individual sport and encouraging teamwork helps swimmers and motivates them to work harder and push themselves. We do this by pairing up swimmers for morning breakfasts, having experienced swimmers peer coach the newer members, team meetings and team games. Progression and improvement also boosts a swimmers’ motivation and well prepared training plans are essential to help them grow. When swimmers are properly trained, they can reach their goals, swim faster, and perform better in their competitions leading to more positive athletes who are committed to the team and their teammates.
Chris Kourtis Middle School Tennis: One of the best practices that always work with my student/athletes is to put them on the forefront of the team decision making mechanisms. We hold lunch meetings, discuss, and take decisions as a team. Making every student feel important in the team is the “glue” that keeps the team together, especially in individual sports.
Angelos Dimitropoulos Varsity Boys Volleyball: Waking up as early as 6am to be in school on time for a 7am volleyball practice and then attend school until almost 4pm may sound like a torture. What seemed to excite my volleyball athletes was the challenge of winning an in-house scrimmage, where the losing team had to buy / prepare breakfast for the entire team for the following morning practice! We managed to have a full house in more than half of our morning practices! Although Volleyball is a fun sport to play and by no means breakfast was the only incentive, it certainly helped some athletes change their mindset about waking up early and stop hitting snooze!
Efi Karatopouzi Track & Field: I think that my secret recipe for my practices is to be calm and understanding while reminding them that they always need to be dedicated and focused during our training as this attitude will bring them closer to their goal. Providing challenges during training will motivate the athletes to achieve their goals.
Igor Schoenefeld High School Tennis: In a way, being a successful tennis team coach is also like being a chef. You have a lot of different ingredients (athletes’ abilities and personalities) and each one must be handled with caution and care, and by doing this you will be able to create a tasty dish. A coach must listen to the athletes, feel their individual needs, explain to them, compromise with them, be engaged and treat them with the highest respect. With that mix, most of the practices can become “golden” ones.
15
What do you want to say to your team this year? What message do you want them to have from you? Nick Naoum & Dean Moraitis Varsity Girls Soccer: That hard work pays off.. that proper training pays off.. that maintaining a high level of integrity pays off.. that being supportive to your teammates pays off…that creating a proper level of Game Understanding, Intensity, Quality, and Competitiveness pays off. We am so proud of the group of ladies that we had the honor to work with, and we are looking forward to next season.
Igor Schoenefeld High School Tennis: It is important to remember that an athlete is not born and being called an athlete is not a title which you can choose. You must earn it. Live it. Make sacrifices for it. Being an Athlete is defined by your actions, principles, and beliefs. Tennis Team 2022, I salute
to you! The past years were extremely challenging for you. You had to face a reality where it was easy to lose your path. But you didn’t! You stayed on course. You are an ACS athlete!
Efi Karatopouzi Track & Field: I want them to be proud of themselves, as I am for them. My message to the athltes is: Always smile no matter the result, as when you have given more than 100% effort, be happy for what you have achieved. Keep deep down in your heart the flame of success for your goal, for sooner or later you will get there.
Chris Kourtis Middle School Tennis: My dear tennis players, I am really impressed with your personalities and your dedication to the team. Your flair in practice and the amazing cooperation you show, both with your immediate teammates (doubles) and the team, makes me very proud of this year’s team selection. I am confident that if you continue with the same passion and ethics, you will be rewarded on the courts and in all your future endeavors, sports and academics. I really appreciate every one of you.
Natassa Antoniou & Orestis Charachousis Middle School Swimming: You all did an incredible job, and we are extremely proud since you all progressed so much. We are extremely happy to see you coming back every day and asking us for more practices even after the season ended! Despite the challenges of competition, the season was perfect!
Angelos Dimitropoulos Varsity Girls Basketball: With the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, our girls basketball team was just one week away from traveling to Paris for our International Sports Tournament. Our season was suddenly interrupted by the pandemic and some students missed the chance to live the experience of playing and traveling with the school team. In the last couple of years, we either did not have a season or just played a couple of local schools and although we enjoyed each other’s company, practicing and playing games, something was still miss-
ing. I would like to believe that next year we’ll be able to have a full season with more home and away games, where your friends and family will be able to see you in action. I’m looking forward to coaching our basketball team once again, traveling outside Athens and Greece, and I hope that nothing is going to stop you from living the Lancers student athlete life at its fullest!
Athanasia Kotsiani & Dionisis Papadakis High School Swimming: We are proud of you all. You worked hard through a tough season and despite all the challenges, you got out of it what you put in it. You managed to break 8 High school swimming records, improved many of your personal best times, placed yourselves in finals (Athens Swim Meet, Oman International virtual swim meet) and earned many medals. Hard work always pays off. Whenever you put time, energy, and effort, you will succeed in life. You should never give up no matter how hard things get. We will always be here to support you and guide you to become the best version of you. We believe in you.
16
I WISH By Labrini Rontogiannis Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach
I
“I wish”. I wish we had had a tournament. I wish we could have traveled. I wish we could have participated in ISSTs. I wish we had more games. I wish we could have painted the crowds with blue and gold. I wish, I wish, I wish... I spent the good part of the season wishing things under my breath, for once again this year, things were not what they used to be. It is without a doubt that the biggest challenge for
any coach the last two years has been this: wishing things were “normal”. Part of that challenge is not having a clear end goal in sight. With very few teams willing to play under the many restrictions, and no tournament to end the season, motivation was taking a hit. Despite a good turn out at try-outs and almost record attendance at practices, with no team goal to map out our season, motivation was not what it used to be. It’s at this point that we turned
to individual athlete goal setting. Setting individual goals for young athletes has been shown to improve an athlete’s sport performance, but is also a life skill that benefits them greatly off the court. Most importantly, goal setting in sports helps to maintain and enhance motivation; and that is
just what we needed! Goal setting was also a great way to navigate our focus elsewhere and work on the little things. The restrictions that this pandemic brought upon our seasons was yet another trial faced by our coaches and athletes; one that they have overcome
17
and one that will help them overcome other such challenges whether on the court or field. Barriers such as these should not stop us from pursuing those things we love; from staying active and being part of a team. It may look different, but it’s always about perspective. I do wish the girls had experienced what a “real” volleyball season looked like; the excitement, camaraderie, and school spirit of ACS Athens athletics. Nonetheless, I am proud of how our season went and how the girls handled themselves both at practices, games and at the disappointment of canceled games. We may not have been able to send a wave of blue and gold in the crowd, but the girls displayed the Sportsmanship, Effort, Discipline, Motivation, Pride, and Respect that comes from being part of an ACS Athens athletic team.
18
My practice By Justin Cramer Varsity Boys Basketball Coach
E
veryday that I design a practice I think about four things:
1.
Which part of today’s practice is going to emphasize our team values and core beliefs, both on offense and defense? 2. What do we need to get better at that we did not show in our last game/practice? 3. How can I incorporate competition and game like situations into today’s practice? 4. What do we have to do be prepared for our next opponent? These are the four guiding questions when it comes to basketball, but with Covid-19 globally altering sports at all levels over the last two years, some of those questions have become more or less a priority than others. Because of the low number of games played, I was able to focus on our team values and core beliefs as opposed to game planning during practice. This was a great opportunity for me to try things I wouldn’t have had time for. On one hand, it
was unfortunate, but on the other, we got to emphasize how we want to play and establish an on-court culture of playing with fluidity on offense and toughness on defense. To my team, thank you for allowing us to push you in this way. I remember in December everyone was so excited to possibly start playing games – as was I! But the pandemic had other plans for us…and it was back to multiple weeks of practice. On the court, I pushed you and yelled at you to do things right, and you continued to be coachable and positive, without knowing if we would play a game. Fortunately, we did, and our hard work showed (5-1 is not bad!). To the seniors, I can’t thank you enough for the leadership you provided. I know playing only six games in two years isn’t what you imagined for your last two years of high school basketball, but you were there every day in practice, doing what we asked of you and being role models to the under classman. Thank you for everything boys…I am proud to have you call me coach.
19
20
ATHLETIC council The Athletic council is a Leadership group made up of varsity student athletes; these nominations come from coaches of varsity sports (soccer, volleyball, cross country, swimming, basketball, track and tennis). The Athletic Director may also nominate two “at large” members.
the criteria: Athlete must be a responsible individual Athlete must be academically “fit” Athlete must be a leader on and off the fields Athlete must be capable of working with others; peers and adults Athlete must be a positive role model for peers Athlete must have shown organizational skills
ATHLETIC COUNCIL MEMBERS Athanasios Sitinas Will Laitinen George Pliakas Francesca Kouroupos Ann Marie Martinou Tommaso Alocci Emily McAtee Evdoxia Mikropandremenou Amaryllis Antonopoulou Josilyn Neel Romuald Brosset Ariadni Koropouli Nektaria Dourida Nick Giannopoulos
21
22
What is the first word that comes to your mind when you think of ACS Athens Athletics? A survey done by student-athletes
EDONI C A
ANS
M
23
24
community service Every small gesture counts! By Valia Efstathiou, Athletic Programs and Events Coordinator
T
he Sports Shoes Recycling project dates to the early part of 2015; it is a project that the Athletic Department has
embraced through the years and one which makes us proud because it is a testament that simple, small gestures can and do make a difference in someone’s life.
All those years, the Athletic Council, a leadership group made of student/ athletes representing our school sports and all the athletes, has been in the forefront of this initiative. Their leadership role is not limited to the courts or fields; it also expands off the sports forum and into the classroom and into the community. This project is done in collaboration with the NGO “Institute Team for the World” and it exists in other major events, such as the Athens Classic Marathon. Our athletes created awareness within our school and reached out
25
to their families, friends, and other members of our community to collect “old” sneakers that are still in good condition, to make them available to the needy. In recent years (pre-pandemic) other international schools were invited to join us and a few of them brought with them their contribution when
they traveled to Athens to participate in our international events. Since 2015, we have collected more than 1500 pairs of sneakers that were given to individuals, such as the National team of the Homeless, other homeless people and refugees.
26
VOLUNTEERING AT THE ACS ATHENS SUMMER CAMP By Anita Palimeri, Summer Camp Administrative Assistant A valuable experience for the students and of immense value to the summer camp
W
hether a group leader or an office assistant, a classroom or a sports helper, Summer Camp volunteers are integral to the success of the summer camp. Their presence and enthusiasm, their energy and willingness to help, make them the best buddies for younger campers. ACS Athens students can volunteer at the Summer Camp once they reach Grade 9. Having been a camper in the past, this valuable knowledge is put to use as a Summer Camp volunteer.
ers who are not familiar with the English language and guide them through the day. They check that everyone is present and doing well, and finally they help with the end of the camp celebration show.
What are their duties? They arrive early and leave when camp finishes. They assist at every sports activity; helping set up and clean after each activity. They help younger camp-
Volunteers speak for themselves:
Numbers are impressive as more than 40 volunteers are present during each summer. In 2018 there were 51 volunteers, with 24 being non-ACS students. In 2019, out of 59 volunteers only 13 were non -ACS and in 2021 out of 45 volunteers only 10 were students from other schools.
“I did the ACS summer camp, as I wanted to gain experience working at the school since I want to
study education in university. During the camp I assisted younger students in developing their creative and divergent thinking by participating in both educational and recreational activities. For the duration of the two weeks, I was a Group Leader, in charge of 10 students who needed to be directed to each of the activity stations. I was also in charge of their safety and well-being. Overall this experience was very enjoyable and I would do it again if the opportunity was provided to me. “ Nefeli Vassiliadis “I volunteered for the summer camp because it seemed like a fun experience and I had never volunteered before so I wanted to try it out. I was a group leader for the “Dream Team” and my job was to take the kids to their activities and look after them during their free time. The kids weren’t hard to look after as they listened to what they were told to do. I also joined the kids during their activities, and it was really fun and overall a good and memorable experience.” Sandy Wang “I volunteered for the camp because I saw it as an opportunity to meet new people and give back to the school. It will also appear on my college application. As a group leader, my job was to
assist the kids in any way I could and communicate with them so they could have a good time. Finally, I had to attend their events and assist them as needed. All of it may sound boring, but I had a blast doing it. My experience was fantastic; I had a great time with the kids as well as my peers.” Theodoros Andritsopoulos Panagiotopoulos
27
28
“GIVING BACK” to my school community By Aikaterini Drakou, Academy student
Teaching Sports to young children
O
ne of my great passions is basketball. I fell in love with this sport from the very first moment I stepped foot on the basketball court. The last three years, I have been a member of the Foinikas Piraeus Basketball Team, which competes in the Women’s A2 Division, and of course, the ACS Athens Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team. All these years of playing basketball, I have been immersed in the team spirit and cooperation amongst my teammates and coaches. The sport has taught me to be respectful towards the rules of the game, opponents, and referees. Taking part in a competitive sports team allowed me to be self-disciplined and motivated, setting goals, overcoming the limits of myself, as well as managing my feelings in case of victories and
defeats. Being raised with the notion of contributing to my community, this year I volunteered as a basketball coach assistant in the ACS Athens Recreational Afterschool Activities, helping young kids learn how to play basketball, and transmitting to them my love for this sport and all the lessons and experiences I have gathered. This particular voluntary activity was very significant for me, as it was a way to give back to my school for the golden opportunity it offered me; awarding me with an academic athletic scholarship. It is worth mentioning that this experience was unique and contributed to the formation of my personality. To begin with, being used to the athlete perspective all these years, this time I had to adapt to the mindset of the coach, while embracing my natural leadership
skills. Moreover, I recalled my first steps in the beginning of my basketball journey, including all the challenges, but also the countless moments of joy and satisfaction. Lastly, I did not only teach the young aspiring athletes the basketball spirit and skills,
but they taught me how to enjoy the game, and how giving love and respect is reciprocal. This experience will be engraved in my heart and mind forever, and I highly urge everyone to volunteer and give back to their community.
29
30
31
32
33
34
A new tradition: “Record Breaking” Ritual By Annie Constantinides, Director of Athletics Athanassia Kotsiani, Swimming Coach
R
ecords are there for many reasons; for the history of the sport, for the testament of excellence and hard work, and they are meant to be broken! The ACS Athens Swimming Record board has been a dominant fixture of our swimming pool - names of swimmers dating back to 2007 are proof of the swimming history of our school. Breaking a school record is always an ambition for many swimmers; and this year, quite a few records were broken and the exhilaration was enormous. We asked the new record holders to place their names and times on the board - a new tradition and ritual is now up and running and we hope that every year, more swimmers will have the opportunity to be part of this “ceremony”. Congratulations to our swimmers!
35
36
2022 ACS Athens Virtual 3K a Global Runaway Success By Effie Delimarkos Head of Development
N
early two years ago, the ACS Athens community came together in the first-ever ACS Athens Virtual 3K to give students a reason to get outdoors, get active and come together in a common goal despite the necessary social distancing. Building off this tradition, the 2022 ACS Athens Virtual 3K Run/Walk expanded to rally all members of the ACS Athens family, including students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni and all of our friends to do good for our ACS community and for those impacted by the current humanitarian crisis with a portion of proceeds going to the Hellenic Red Cross. “In 2022, it was inspiring to see how the ACS Athens Virtual 3K Run/Walk continued the tradition of bringing the ACS family together from all over the world despite our busy schedules,”
said ACS Athens President Dr. Peggy Pelonis. “The circumstances changed but the power we have as a community to come together to do good remains strong.” Over the course of 12 days, 126 participants walked, jogged, and ran all over the world, including the United States, Greece, Mexico and Dubai, with one notable ACS Ambassador, ACS Athletics Director Annie Constantinides, pounding the pavement in not one, but three states - Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Thanks to this year’s participation, we are excited to have a € 2,000 kickstart toward building the new outdoor fitness area for the Middle School and Academy. Even more inspiring were the ACS Athens students that took on the challenge, from all three schools: Elementary, Middle School and the Academy.
37
38
WHY is it important to provide summer sports and fun activities amidst the pandemic? By Annie Constantinides Director of Athletics 2021 - ACS Athens Summer Camp & Basketball Camp
T
he past 24 months have presented challenges across the globe in many ways; the impact of the pandemic has been multifaceted and those of us working with young children have seen the detrimental effects of the lockdowns and restrictions on our children. For several months, youngsters were not allowed to socialize with their peers and friends, were not allowed to play and do any kind of physical activity (whether in school or not), and as a result, many of them who were “confined” in their homes suffered mentally and physically as this new experience was unprecedented and difficult to
manage. Children love to play; some more, some less. Play is important for children’s socio-emotional and physical development. The school environment provides opportunities and activities that cater to individual interests and talents. The ACS Athens Summer Camp, after a year’s absence due to COVID 19, took place in 2021 to provide a safe environment where young children could engage in fun activities and socialize with other children. Their exuberance was apparent from the moment they entered our school premises, and this sight was so fulfilling for all of us who worked tirelessly to prepare a smooth and safe operation, considering all the protocols and directives of the authorities. There was a time when
we asked ourselves, WHY are we providing summer programs when other educational institutions opted not to? Perhaps it would be best to keep things simple for another year and refrain from offering summer camp opportunities until the pandemic was completely behind us! It seemed that all the safety protocols and procedures were too much of a burden for just a few weeks of activities. Our processes were changed; the choices of activities were affected by the restrictions; the student group sizes were altered, and we had to be even more creative with the allocation of our facilities; but, at the end of the day, the benefit for the children to return and experience face to face activity engagement far outweighed the challenges and inherent risks of the pandemic. For us, it was imperative to provide a safe, engaging, educational and exciting environment for the mental and physical wellbeing of the young children. More than 300 young children joined us for a period of two weeks in July and once again, our campus was vibrant! Providing choices and variety has always been the driving element of our summer programs; with this in mind, following our traditional summer camp program, a new fun endeavor was initiated: the ACS Athens Basketball
camp took place for one week with the purpose of teaching young children the fundamentals of basketball in a fun and engaging environment. Our coaching staff consisted of exceptional international and national coaches with many years of experience in the sport. The highlight of the camp, however, was the appearance of four guest speakers / athletes that visited the camp and talked to the children about several topics, such as the importance of hard work, goal setting, the importance of education and the role of sport in building individual confidence. Dimos Dikoudis (Former National team player and Euroleague Champion), Leonidas Kaselakis (National team player), Vasilis Kavadas (National Team player) and Ian Vougioukas (St. Louis University graduate, National Team player and Euroleague Champion) joined us, and children were ecstatic!!
39
40
INTERNATIONAL BASKETBALL COACHES CLINIC By Annie Constantinides Director of Athletics
T
he ACS Athens International Basketball Coaches clinic is a well-established event which promotes lifelong learning for professionals in the sport of basketball; it is also an opportunity for our student athletes to be taught by extraordinary coaches from the United States. This year the clinic took place on May 14-15 in our gym and after a two-year absence due to the pandemic, face to face participation was well received. Our speakers were exceptional, and they brought a wealth of knowledge: Coach Tara VanDerveer, the Head Coach of the Stanford University Women’s Basketball team, is the all-time winningest coach in women’s college basketball. She has been a member of both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2011) and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2002) and is considered one of the top
coaches in the history of the sport. She is an icon not only in college but internationally as well as she has also coached the USA Basketball National team winning a gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games with a remarkable run of 60 consecutive wins. Coach Mitch Henderson is the third-winningest coach in the history of the Princeton University men’s basketball program. Under his coaching and guidance, ten Princeton alumni have gone on to professional careers. Coach Marshall Cho has worked the Nike Hoop Summit several times since 2012 and for the past ten years, he has been involved with the USA Basketball Youth and Sport programs as a court coach working with the youth national team camps. Finally, Dr. Nyree Dardarian, a Sports Nutritionist from Drexel University, joined us and gave a lecture on Nutrition and Sports Performance; she
41
provided important and helpful tips on the value of nutrition for sports and young students. It was a pleasure to host these great professionals; what a great opportunity for our students!
** All participants (students and speakers) underwent covid-19 testing.
42
43
44
45
46
Following our student-athletes through their journey Anastasia Koniali Graduation Year: 2013 Years attended ACS Athens: 3 Sport: Basketball
EDUCATION:
Southern New Hampshire University & Southampton Solent University
Major:
BSc - 3 Year Honors Program in Business Administration & MSc International Business Management.
What was your most memorable moment from sports at ACS Athens? The ISSTs tournaments.
Why did you choose that word?
Ethos is ACS Athens’ main motto and one that has followed me through the years on and off the court.
How do you think sports helped you in your professional life?
Basketball shaped my personality and work ethic by teaching me discipline and the importance of team work.
Are there any similarities between sports and your professional life?
well under Do you still keep Working pressure and as a team is in touch with any something I would have struggled with if it wasn’t of your teamDid you play any mates and coach- for basketball. sports in univer- es? Are you involved Yes sity/college? in any community Yes service project Which of the If yes, what following words in your work? If yes, what? sport(s)? best describes Working in a higher Basketball yourself (efeducation institution, fort, respect, community service is Where do you highly important. Some of motivation, currently work the initiatives that I have sportsmanship, been involved in include (company, field, pride, ETHOS)? food drives and fire relief country)? projects. The American College of Greece, Office of Advancement, Greece
Ethos
47
What advice would you give to an ACS Athens student-athlete entering High School? Believe in yourself, and follow your dreams.
48
Following our student-athletes through their journey
Which of the following words best describes yourself (effort, respect, motivation, sportsmanship, pride, ETHOS)?
George Tzelalis Graduation Year: 2016 Years attended ACS Athens: 14 Sport: Basketball, Soccer, Track & Field
Why did you choose that word?
EDUCATION:
St. Thomas University
Major:
Major: Business Administration Minor: Economics
Did you play any sports in university/college? Yes
If yes, what sport(s)? Basketball
Where do you currently work (company, field, country)? Tzelalis Group, Greece
What was your most memorable moment from sports at ACS Athens?
The most memorable moment in sports from ACS Athens was when we won the D1 basketball championship at ACS during my senior year. I was just coming off of a very serious Achilles and ankle injury yet was still able to play a major role in winning the entire ISST D1 tournament.
Do you still keep in touch with any of your teammates and coaches? Yes
Motivation
Are there any similarities between sports and your professional life?
The same values and characteristics that are needed to be successful in sports are the exact same needed to become a successful businessman. Hard work, motivation, perseverance, consistency are among the very basics traits that make a successful human being overall.
Motivation is still the reason why I get up every morning. I constantly strive for more and I am rarely satisfied with whatever it is that I do. Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard and working hard requires a lot of motivation.
Are you involved in any community service project in your work? If yes, what?
How do you think sports helped you in your professional life?
What advice would you give to an ACS Athens student-athlete entering High School?
Being involved in sports ultimately helped me become a team player and allowed me to find my limits as a person and as an athlete.
Not at this moment
Detach yourself from the end goal and focus on the journey. Kids in high school, myself included, are too focused on getting a good grade, often times not being present in the moment and what it is that they can actual learn from the process. At times the meaning of schooling is lost in the GPA average or the letter Grade.
49
50
An incredible journey By Elena Bosgana Class of 2021
C
oming to ACS Athens was a life changing experience for me in every possible way. I met some of the greatest people and some of my best friends. I realized that diversity is what makes our world so interesting and fascinating and that we can make a difference on this planet by being ourselves, by respecting others, and by chasing our dreams. For me, ACS Athens is a place for growth. A place where learning is not restricted to the classroom. A place where you feel a part of a caring community. As a young girl, I could never see myself studying in one of the best universities in the world; Stanford University of all places! From the day I remember myself, sports have always been a part of my identity. It allows me to express myself, to feel confident, to compete, to fail, and to strive for success. Through sports I became familiar with the fact that consistency and teamwork can create change for the better. I believe that ACS Athens promotes the concept of the “student-athlete” hence it allowed me to
be passionate for both. Basketball has always been my passion. I love everything about it. The great moments, the emotions, the friendships, the struggles, the bus rides, the long practices. Literally, everything. Being a student-athlete at Stanford University was something I never dared to imagine.The best thing about it is that I wake up with a purpose every single day and I am constantly motivated to get better as I am surrounded with exceptional people that thrive on whatever their domain is. My first year at Stanford has been a great experience; a bit overwhelming, but nevertheless quite a memorable one. There were many “ups and downs” for many reasons: leaving my home in Athens and going so far away was a challenge. Stanford is a demanding institution academically as there was lots of daily academic work; in addition, the Stanford basketball team consisted of returning top players who won the NCAA championship the year before. This meant that I would be practicing on the basketball court among the best players in the country, which meant
that I would not get much playing time - and I didn’t! However, I showed up everyday at practice working hard and waiting for my chance to come. As the weeks and months passed, I was more comfortable and more confident in my new life chapter. This year my team managed to advance to the NCAA Final Four once again. It was a “journey” that I will cherish forever. It was not easy to get
there, but it was definitely worth it. Even though the final outcome was not the most desirable one (Stanford lost in the semifinal game), we know that there are more to come in the future and we are ready to work for them. ACS Athens prepared me for such experiences and I am forever grateful for that.
51
52
ATHLETeS OF THE YEAR ACADEMY